SAKA MIGHT BE OK (PHEW)

by .

You know what I thought was very amusing? The story in The Sun leaked by senior players in the team who feel like they’re taking the fall for being shite. They dropped a similar thing in the same paper before the Chelsea game on boxing day. One of their big swipes was about the role Thomas Partey plays… then he goes and drops a 9/10 MOTM performance.

Senior players at Arsenal need to understand this: No one gives a fuck what you think. No one. The star boys are all under 25.

Bigger picture, Arteta needs to stop propping these schemers. Willian has ‘great potential’, Pierre ‘late for NLD team meetings’ Auba is committed… he always goes to bat for his big names, and they rarely repay the faith.

Telling a journalist Arteta blames them feels so far from reality. He never throws players under the bus. He takes the blame so often, it’s almost problematic. The worst flaying he’s dished out was Pepe when he headbutted someone at Leeds. Dropping big names for shit performances all the fans watch with fury is not throwing players under the bus. It is a very, very weird bubble these guys live in.

That’s not to say there aren’t senior players who are putting in a shift this season. Granit Xhaka, love him or hate him, has been one of our most consistent performers. Alex Lacazette has developed a new role where is everything and nothing at the same time. Thomas Partey has been a mixed bag, but you never doubt his commitment on the pitch.

Fuck the leakers. Auba deserved to be dropped. Willian has deserved the same. The shame of it all is that these whiners can’t be moved on with much ease.

Arteta gets more out of the younger players he seems so risk-averse in playing. They also never mail it in. I do understand why there’s an aversion to playing too many of them, it’s not normal to play so many teenagers, but the counter-point can’t be to play uncommitted seniors who have us sitting in 9th at the moment.

There’s a big dilemma to be faced this Thursday. Does Arteta revert to his seniors knowing there’s one or a few leaking to the press? Does he revert to names that let him down at Christmas? That couldn’t do the job against Liverpool?

Or does he pick the team best suited to doing the job? The team. The team. The team. Imo.

Martinelli said he was fit for Thursday. Play him. Let him terrorise a Slavia’s shoddy defence.

Bukayo Saka was immense against Sheff U, rumours are that he just had a dead leg, let him roam as a #10 again.

Give Nico another go, he’s been crucial to two goals on the bounce, he looks hungry, warm up the clunky first touch and reward him.

We cannot afford to play badly on Thursday. I need my match against Unai Emery in the cauldron of hell. Our awful season could be made a little sweeter if we make the final downing him in his comfort blanket.

Arsenal needs to score goals. Willian’s ‘control’ wasn’t helpful in the first leg, nor will it be in the second. Auba is either a #9 or he’s on the bench. If Lacazette is playing give him players that can form part of that 3-1-6 formation we had going at the weekend.

What I loved about the Sheffield United game is Arteta created an innovative solution in a game we were missing big players. There were clever ideas all over the pitch. My issue is that he does that when his back is against the wall… but when he gets bad options back in the system, he falls back on them.

We need to be protaganists on Thursday. I want Arsenal to humiliate them and crush their confidence in the first 20 minutes. We have to be decisive and head there demanding more than a late goal… we need to score 3 again.

I say this every week, but we need to get a run going, it hasn’t happened all season, let’s make it happen now.

Right, short one today, listen to the podcast below and we’ll talk turkey in the comments below. x

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Wiglaf

Rich I think xhaka at left back is a topic that has been done with in legrove it’s not even worth a lookin.Didn’t Emery use the same tactics and get bashed for it due to xhaka’s lack of athleticism?Yes he played well against Sheffield but they had mcgoldrick and Burke forward ffs they are terrible.Maybe we should put him there against saint maximin in a couple of weeks time to see the clear picture lol.

Hang on
Didn’t Sheffield United beat us under emery? 1-0? I’m sure they did

Wiglaf

31 g/a from a “failure” isn’t half bad from the bench is it?
Still a fair few games left for him to increase that too.
I’m routing for him

Nelson

Guns of SF “What will you do when Mike puts Auba as LW and Laca as striker on Thursday?”
————————————————————————————————————–

If Arteta also puts Cedric as LB, then we would be in for big trouble. Cedric would keep giving away unnecessary corners.

Champagne Charlie

Wiglaf

Don’t muddy my views with your nonsense chatter about Zaha, he’s irrelevant to how I rate Pepe’s impact in an Arsenal shirt.

You believe in Pepe the same way many head to church on Sunday, whatever brings you comfort. Just don’t project that when the reality reads very different.

Luteo Guenreira

Whoever is chosen I hope the squad shows up on Thursday, reckon they will as Arsenal have usually played better in more meaningful matches under Arteta. Not remotely a compliment but I guess it can be spun into a positive. An early goal will help, it if drags at 0-0 into the 60-70 minute mark I’d really be concerned it would end that way.

Habesha Gooner

I can’t take Charlie seriously when he has a lot of time for Xhaka but can’t forgive the bad games from pepe, when he has been a match winner in others. The thing I am pissed about pepe is the price tag. We got a raw player for that. But he is a good player. He can make an impact. That hasn’t changed because he is one of our top scorers this season even with the limited time he has had.

Champagne Charlie

Nice to see you Luteo. Haven’t seen much of you of late, hope you’re well.

Dissenter

One of the biggest jokes of the Arteta era is that Saliba is currently not good enough for Arsenal, a team languishing in midtable.
The lad joined Nice midway and is already a staple in their squad, guaranteed a start anytime he’s fit.

Champagne Charlie

Habesha I’m present, why not actually address me instead of talking about me? Grow up a touch. It’s nothing to do with forgiving bad games, and everything to do with the value offered week after week. Pepe doesn’t come close to offering that value on the pitch meanwhile Xhaka does irrespective of the laughable amount of ridicule and hate that goes his way. Pepe is our most expensive signing ever, you don’t get to remove that from the equation when discussing him because ‘it’s not his fault’, it’s part of his package. He doesn’t do the basics as well as… Read more »

Almuniasaynomore

Kroenkephobe Thanks for the Steve Williams clip,proper footballer wasn’t he. God I’d forgotten how good Brian Moore’s voice sounded,I’d say that’s one of my biggest gripes about tv coverage nowadays, commentators and analysts uttering empty soundbites. And don’t get me started on the token females,some of them are Jamie Carragher levels of embarrassment. I too have DB as my 1st choice striker, I’d say no stat in the world could justify picking him ahead of Wrighty or Henry but that just goes to show the value of stats. Those who actually watched Denis play know true class can’t always be… Read more »

Wiglaf

Pepe is our most expensive signing ever, you don’t get to remove that from the equation when discussing him because ‘it’s not his fault’, it’s part of his package Charlie No. But it shouldn’t affect how a the fan base views his performances should it? Be honest. Should we be holding this lad to a £70m standard or should we hope that he’s given the sort of opportunities being afforded to older and less able counterparts? Nobody is saying he’s worth the £72m Raul conned us into paying. Not me. Not anyone. But you should give credit where it’s due… Read more »

WengerEagle

He may not be the next Messi or Ronaldo technically but nobody else scares the shit out of defenders like Mbappe does.

Absolutely electric as well as an excellent dribbler, finisher and passer.

Champagne Charlie

“No. But it shouldn’t affect how a the fan base views his performances should it? Be honest“ Is this satire? If Pepe cost 7 mil and was on 60k then he’d get judged differently because the expectation and responsible within the team would be different. He’s been brought in as a senior/star feature of our attack and his input is less impressive than two of our academy graduates. That’s a problem. Aubameyang is the highest earner and our best XI doesn’t include him for many. Exact same metric, another problem. The fact you think “Arteta is holding him back” says… Read more »

WengerEagle

Nobody watching this match?

MidwestGun

Eagle., I’m watching, dude. Crazy town so far.. If PSG go on to lose this.. Neymar has to take a pretty big chunk of blame.

WengerEagle

What’s up Mid.

Yeah, it’s funny exact same as his performance last season vs Atalanta in the QF.

Best player on the park but doesn’t look his old Barcelona self in front of goal. Really should have scored that 2nd chance.

Bob N16

WengerE, some of the interplay between DiMaria, Mbappe and Neymar has been world class. Can’t believe their losing…

Kroenkephobe

Almunia Hiya mate. Williams had it all – technical ability (well as much as anyone could d have on those pitches), grit and leadership. I wish he joined us a few seasons earlier from Soton. A Finsbury Park native and a huge AFC fan. Earned his place in Arsenal folklore for his assertive communication with Ossie! I also rated Kevin Richardson who came along a few years later but he shared a lot of SW’s qualities. Sympathies on your lockdown experience – it’s been peculiar how different countries have ebbed and flowed on covid. Ms K’phobe and I are off… Read more »

Bob N16

they’re

WengerEagle

Yeah Bob, been really impressed with Gueye in CM too.

Wins all of his 50-50s and rarely loses possession.

They should be out of sight by now. Bayern have created nothing but the goal, reversal of last week really.

MidwestGun

Not much.. working outside ..and taking a break to watch this one.. Knew it was going to be close.

Bayern create an insane amount of chances but for some reason they seem to try an d walk it in the net or take weak attempts. Second half should be fun,

Dissenter

Neymar is dating identical twin sisters named the post and the crossbar.

Wiglaf

The fact you think “Arteta is holding him back” says it all. Charlie Really? What is all exactly? You’ve got a fella that can score goals from anywhere in the area Goals that nobody else in our team can score 3rd highest goal contributions, largely from the bench Dropped after every good performance without fail but still comes back with confidence and produces at the business end The fact you fail to admit any of this will allow me only to conclude you’re biased. Why are you biased? Because you wanted Zaha. Was fun watching you the other day use… Read more »

Wiglaf

Is this satire? If Pepe cost 7 mil and was on 60k then he’d get judged differently because the expectation and responsible within the team would be different. He’s been brought in as a senior/star feature of our attack

Yeah Charlie
How can he be our star man from the bench?

Bob N16

What I particularly like about Mbappe is that despite the fact he is such a great goal scorer, he will still pass if he feels it’s the better option than shooting. Most CFs shoot when they are in sight of goal, Mbappe will pass if he judges it the better option- top class!

Champagne Charlie

Wiglaf You know you’re desperate when you have to constantly reference Zaha when trying to prop up a view of Pepe. Such a spin merchant too, of course I’d expect Pepe to deliver more playing for Man City given their players (I said exactly that). But that wasn’t what you argued, you said Pepe was on Sterling and Salah’s level only that he played for Arsenal so didn’t score as much. Such a dishonest, and fucking stupid take. It’s all wishful thinking with you and Pepe, he’s not nearly as good a footballer as he should be for the investment.… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“How can he be our star man from the bench?“

Can you read?

He’s been brought in to be a star in our attack. He’s relegated to the bench because he’s everything I’ve said he is, hugely underwhelming. If he was actually at Sterling’s level he’d not be on the bench…..see how it works?

Wiglaf

It’s all wishful thinking with you and Pepe, he’s not nearly as good a footballer as he should be for the investment. He doesn’t get in the best XI, and his output is heavily padded by his EL returns. Charlie Yes, because the manager is constantly making poor decisions. And desperate is pretty fucking far from how I feel regarding anything to do with arsenal these days. However, glass houses and throwing stones springs to mind when every time someone writes a post that is in any way complimentary or defensive of Pepe you appear out of the blue to… Read more »

Bob N16

If I can enter the Pepe discussion, I still can’t work out how good a player he is/ can be. At times he looks incapable of controlling the ball, at other times his first touch is good and he looks like a defender’s nightmare. In his defence, often the problem has been the limitations of his support on the right, in particular at RB and earlier in the season, a midfielder working the right hand side. He was often isolated and easily marked. That being said, his footballing intelligence appears to hamper his decision making, defenders stay tight on him… Read more »

Wiglaf

Champagne CharlieApril 13, 2021 20:59:54
“How can he be our star man from the bench?“Can you read? He’s been brought in to be a star in our attack. He’s relegated to the bench because he’s everything I’ve said he is, hugely underwhelming. If he was actually at Sterling’s level he’d not be on the bench…..see how it works?

Pretty stupid comment from you.
Is this the real charlie?

Habesha Gooner

Charlie 9 goals and 4 assists so far say we should give him time. He is not the most silky footballer but he is one of the most deadly forwards we have in front of goal. He brings a different kind of threat to our attack. No one told us to pay 70 mil for him. We made a mistake paying that. But the player has been a decent one if not spectacular. Just because we have a superior player form the Academy doesn’t mean pepe is shit. Anyway this is a cracking game. Have enjoyed every minute since the… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Wiglaf

Rich coming from the guy who seems to be president of his fan club these days. No Pepe convo goes without your seal of support for him.

Nvm the fact the discussion earlier today was around how we replace the goals of Auba, Laca, and Pepe if sold – which of course alerted you to Stan your man Pepe and make it all about him.

Wiglaf

Bob

I agree. His time has been somewhat underwhelming. But I also agree that he was isolated on the wing with no overlapping olayer and no creative players to bounce off or to feed him. In fact when ever bellerin would get the ball with Pepe wide open and ready to move towards goal bellerin would turn around and pass it backwards.
Wtf?? What is Pepe to do when he’s not getting fed at all never mind fed early?? The dickheads wait until he has 2-3 markers on him then wonder why he’s not beating them all

MidwestGun

Man.. I’m glad I don’t have money on this match.. either way, would be maddening..

Wiglaf

Nvm the fact the discussion earlier today was around how we replace the goals of Auba, Laca, and Pepe if sold – which of course alerted you to Stan your man Pepe and make it all about him.

Cc

Nope
It was about Pepe’s big numbers from very few starts

salparadisenyc

Evening you sexy bastards game on in Paris.

Bob N16

Bakker has just come on for PSG, we should sign him….Xhaka to Bakker to Saka to Laca.

MidwestGun

Sup Sal? I’m just a bastard but I’ll answer anyhow. 😀

Yeah this game is on the razor’s edge.

salparadisenyc

Miiiiiiddy,

All good pleased i’m not being dulled by the ever inconsistent Arsenal and playing the neutral role this evening.

PSG trying to give this away, be very interesting if Bayern get 1 more.

Champagne Charlie

“Nope
It was about Pepe’s big numbers from very few starts“

No it wasn’t……

“I see people on legrove who want a clear out involving Pepe and auba and then what?Where will our goals come from?Lacazette?“

Wiglaf

o it wasn’t……“I see people on legrove who want a clear out involving Pepe and auba and then what?Where will our goals come from?Lacazette?“

Charlie
Keep scrolling up
Just a few short posts
Anyways, as fun and enlightening as this has been I’m going.
Enjoy arguing over which players you like best lads
I’m owdy

MidwestGun

Oh wow.. how did that happen? oh nvm… offside…. that was tight. Feels like PSG are gonna score as Bayern get more and more desperate.

Almuniasaynomore

Kroenkephobe Catalonia, man that’s the way to go,the weather alone makes me jealous, though nothing wrong with the odd ‘soft day’,we get about 300 of them a year. Good luck with that. Kevin Richardson,some man. Imagine winning two league titles with two different clubs at that time without playing for liverpool. Of course anyone who played at Anfield in 89 immediately qualifies for legendary status but I’d still be more inclined to take Davis over him(I think it was Davis being injured that actually gave him his break ) but yeah, quality. I’m finding this game in Paris a hard… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Wow what an intense ending to a cracking tie. Wouldn’t be surprised if there is one more twist.

WengerEagle

Impressed by PSG defensively, 2 great games of football.

Reckon Bayern win it though if Lewandowski and Gnabry were fit.

Don’t know what has happened to Neymar’s scoring touch in the CL knockouts. Used to be so lethal in front of goal.

Him, Mbappe and Di Maria were amazing tonight barring the finishing.

MidwestGun

Wow.. wouldn’t have bet on … PSG not scoring and still going through.. but they did.

Habesha Gooner

Well Madrid vs PSG it is. Man city really do have a chance this season though. Chelsea won’t trouble them. And I can see them beating PSG or Madrid.

Matt

Mbappe who is ten times the player Aubamayang is works his arse off. I bet he’s never late for a game either!

WengerEagle

Chelsea spluttering through tonight, lost at home to Porto mustering only 1 effort on target and 2 shots all game.

Real Madrid will deal with them in the SF.

Radio Raheem

Fantastic match.

Bayern out

#RadioRaheemknows

WengerEagle

Habesha

PSG vs City will be the SF, Real are on the other side and will play Chelsea.

Radio Raheem

Still not convinced by Sane in a Bayern shirt.

WengerEagle

Same Radio, he doesn’t look the same player as he was pre-injury to me.

Unbelievable how wafer-thin their squad is. How can Choupa-Moting be your Lewandowski replacement?

Radio Raheem

Wenger eagle

That Chupo thing is just banter. Seriously, sure he couldn’t have been in the top 10 of free available strikers at the time. The substituted for veteran Javi Martinez who is a holding mid says a lot about what the manager thinks.

Habesha Gooner

Oh PSG vs city is the draw. Chelsea will have a better shot against Madrid than city though. Madrid have been in great form lately though. Two fantastic performances vs Liverpool and Barcelona. Fascinating ties apart from a decent but not great Chelsea side.

Terraloon

WE

Don’t know what game you watched but Chelsea managed that game from start to finish.

Porto had to make all the running and save an exceptional overhead kick they didn’t threaten Chelsea at all.

They call it game management .

Radio Raheem

Sane has the skill but lacks the 🔥 to be a Bayern player. The difference in application between him and the others is glaring.

karim

Can Harland and Reus do it v City ?

WengerEagle

Terraloon

I watched PSG-Bayern.

Was just bantering the Chavs really. I do expect Real to be too good for them having said that.

karim

Haaland

poland

how is Odegaard and ESR for thursday? anyone..

Terraloon

You’d think but when you get to this stage anything can happen

WengerEagle

Radio

I get that Lewy is the best CF in Europe and anybody else would be a drop-off but Choupa as you say is just bonkers. He was playing for Stoke and Schalke before his make-a-wish PSG move.

Falling upwards as they say.

WengerEagle

Karim

Shame that they have no Sancho. If they did I would fancy an upset.

They held their own last week. City will dominate the ball but how often have we seen this story with City between Liverpool, Spurs and Lyon.

Comes down to moments and holding your nerve.

Dissenter

I will never understand how Chupo-Moting went from Stoke city to PSG and then to Bayern.

Dissenter

Chelsea can win this year’s CL
Cup competitions have that unpredictability built into them and Chelsea tend to have good European nights when they count the most.

Radio Raheem

Weird thing to say but City’s biggest problem tomorrow might be Pep.

La croqueta

MbApril 13, 2021 13:01:23 Lacazette is playing for what Auba was playing last season. A fat contract extension…He is been average at best, if we want to keep fighting for FA cup and nothing more, extend his contract. // Glad to see some of us are starting to wake up to this problem. How many more players need to perform poorly overall. Come to the end of their deals. Refuse to be sold. Refuse to accept bids. Refuse to lower wages. Collapse deals. Then… Bust a gut to convince the manager/fans they are integral to the team. Receive a new… Read more »

WengerEagle

Think Real are a bad match-up for Pool. Dominated the 1st leg and they just have so much experience and composure in the side with Modric, Benzema, Kroos, Casemiro, etc.

They won’t shit themselves ala Barca if they concede an early goal tomorrow night.

Almuniasaynomore

Wenger eagle Do you know is there any truth to the stories surrounding Wenger’s failed pursuit of mbappe,that it was his refusal to throw a couple of million as a sweetener to get the deal done? I always wonder about the ‘nearly signed’ stories that surround Wenger. A part of me says they are rubbish,why would you tell people of all the top players you could have signed but failed to? But another part of me thinks that by the end there he was losing it and actually thought he’d gain credit for having spotted these talents so early even… Read more »

WengerEagle

Almunia I couldn’t tell you mate to be honest, I heard the murmurs too but it is hard to know whether there’s any validity because AW just loved to claim that he spotted talent before anybody else even when he couldn’t execute an actual move. Weird humble-bragger that he was. I agree, I think he lost his eye for talent a few years before the end. If you look at his track record, from 1996-2008 it was brilliant, David Dein no doubt playing a crucial role too in getting the deals across the line. From 2009-2018 though you look at… Read more »

Dissenter

Cazorla
Glad to see that you’re offended by a joke about a player that couldn’t get away from the crossbar and post all game long.
Why don’t you take your BS and stick it where they sun don’t shine.

Almuniasaynomore

Wenger eagle I often wonder were/are Forest supporters as conflicted about Clough(European cup to relegation) as most of us are about Wenger. Somehow I think not,they wouldn’t have had the same sense of status within the game as Arsenal fans, and I mean that with no disrespect to either club. The way you divided his reign is indicative of how I remember him now,although as I’ve said before his failure to sign given as a replacement for Almunia finished me with him earlier than many. I just thought that because it was such an obvious thing to do he wouldn’t… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Dissenter,

I have to say that I’m with Cazorla on this one.

I’m also truly offended by just how shitty your attempt at a joke is.

Ju Young Park levels.

Call me a snowflake if you like but even polar ice-caps would take offence at that one.

RockyRoe

You were told Carlo is washed up. Right now he is higher than arteta
You were told Jose is heading for a meltdown. Right now he is higher than arteta.
You were told OGS isa joke. Right now he is higher than arteta.
Rogers is going from strength to strength in his 2nd season.
Beilsa has Leeds sitting on equal points.
Aston villa could leapfrog us a D they barely avoided relegation last season.

All of this begs the question. Just how shit must arteta be?

Useroz

Arteta for once needs.to balance the team, not the age!

RockyRoe

And OSG reminds me, Bamford made/is making a lot of people here his bitch. He was bang on about OSG and arteta. Didn’t he have arsenal finishing around 8/9th in his power ranking when he was being laughed at? Karma man, karma.

Nelson

Our girls defeated the British girls 3 – 0. Go Canada Go!!!

bennydevito

Rocky

Exactly. Bamford said United were a higher level than Arsenal. Champagne Charlie had an aneurysm. United are 18 points above Arsenal.

Bamford said Leicester were better than Arsenal and half of Le Grove lined up to wager that Arsenal would finish above Leicester. Leicester are 11 points above Arsenal.

Bamford may have said things that some people here didn’t like reading, but he was right.

Dream10

Sané has not found his feet in Germany. Reckon he will move again within a year.

Dortmund will upset City.

China1

Darian0 about to collect the big $$$$$ with those power ranking wagers!!!

China1

Hahaha Pedro Darian0 with an o is a banned word??

Lolz

Bam must be loving this season. Next season I’m gonna remortgage the house and go all in on the power rankings.

20% cut for bam and 5% cut for darian0

China1

Bam is the Britney Spears of this blog. Talented and virtuous but restricted and controlled by Pedro and his evil minions.

#FreeDarian0
#Bamford for state guvnor
#CollectDatWagerWonga

Tony

China 1
“Bam is the Britney Spears of this blog. Talented and virtuous but restricted and controlled by Pedro and his evil minions.”

That’s almost as funny as Wiglaf’s priceless Xhaka is better than Pogba quote yesterday.

Wiglaf

Find a hobby Tony

China1

All day Tony!

China1

Tbf I did hear Zidane wanted to make a 100+m bid for him this summer but there may also be sub 25m bids from middling and low table German clubs for his signature as well, so it’s a tough one to call 🤓

Wiglaf

Who said xakha was better than pogba? Pogba is clearly the better player 😂
Why lie in the pursuit of a point Tony? What do you gain?
I said he is better value at £35m than Pogba at £90m
I stand by it

Tony

Wiglaf
Do quantify your findings with metrics used.

I’d love to see how you came to that decision.

Puzzling

Sid

For 35m you get a LB, mediocre midfielder and a keyholder that value right there
Im telling you for free!

Wiglaf

I’m basing it on his awful performance levels over the past 4 seasons
The big chances he misses in big games
The fact he regularly hides vs top 6 opponents but shows up against the hulls and the Fulham’s of the league so everyone (like you) will coo over him.
Not saying he’s not talented but he’s not £90m and he’s not the talisman or even big game midfielder they bought him to be. Sorry but bad attitude and largely a waste of ability.

Frost

“I have to say that I’m with Cazorla on this one.I’m also truly offended by just how shitty your attempt at a joke is.”

The things yu’all pick offence at. Most of you need to get laid on this blog.

Pierre

Foxy “Have a look at Xhaka’s recent game heat Maps on Arseblog. They show He hardly leaves the back left quarter of the pitch in fact an area within that quarter.” I’m not sure if this is a criticism or you are complimenting him for showing such discipline. What that tells me is that Martinelli (who played on the left)had very little support offensively from our left back , which makes Martinelli’s performance more impressive, , though Saka at times did offer support .occasionally. Personally, if xhaka is played at left back, I would prefer to see him play the… Read more »

Wiglaf

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9028549/amp/Paul-Pogba-overrated-player-seen-LIFE-blasts-Jamie-Carragher.html

https://www.football365.com/news/mailbox-paul-pogba-worst-buys-man-utd-history

https://www.football365.com/news/manchester-united-paul-pogba-bad-fit-money-grabbing

Tony
I’m not alone in this view. Fans pundits and journos alike have been highly critical of Pogba’s inability to perform well regularly for Manchester United.
It’s no secret. The difference in the level of expectations for what they got and what they should be getting is far more than us with xakha. Xakha is a solid 7/10 player almost all of the time for 35m.
Pogba can be a 9 every 10-15 games. But he’s largely a 6-7/10
If that’s what £90m gets you then I’d say xakha is better value for 7/10 performances at £35m

Sid

Without checking heat maps, i can guess the same happens with our other midfielders, they are given instructions not to leave their quarters of the field.

Probably Willian follows those instructions too, thats why the manager loves him.
It explains our rigid style and why adventurous players get binned.

Dark Hei

Pierre

Arteta has pulled the Xhaka LB move quite a few times.

But it can only come as a surprise move. If teams know it is Xhaka at LB, they will find a way to exploit it.

China1

Yeah if xhaka plays at LB he should be sitting. I’d much rather he be disciplined and just do a basic job defensively the best he can than have him try and do anything more

The sight of him tearing down the wings on the overlap does not instill one with confidence lol. If he must play then play to his strengths or not at all.

China1

One mans 7/10 is another mans 5/10

Just sayin’

kjelli

Should Arsenal have a look at an impressive player at West Brom in Pereira ? And use AMN
as a down payment ?